May Day Celebration in Cuba

[Nolan]

Cubans urged to work hard



Havana - A sea of red-clad Cubans paraded through Havana's Revolution Square on Saturday in a politically charged May Day celebration that urged rejection of international criticism of the island's human rights policies and harder work to bolster socialism.

Hundreds of thousands of people, most in red shirts and many waving red flags, filed through the vast plaza where President Raul Castro and a podium full of dignitaries looked on from beneath a giant statue of national hero Jose Marti.

Absent for the fourth consecutive year was former leader Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba for 49 years but has not been seen in public since undergoing intestinal surgery in July 2006.

Cuba billed the annual parade as a show of solidarity against condemnation from the United States and Europe for the February death of dissident hunger striker Orlando Zapata Tamayo, and the rough treatment of opposition group "Ladies in White" in recent protests.

It has portrayed US and European reaction as part of a long campaign to discredit the communist-led government, whose leaders have been hammering that message home in state-run media and speeches to stir nationalist sentiment.

President Castro, wearing a straw hat and white guayabera shirt, did not speak to the gathered masses, but Communist Party official Salvador Valdes Mesa told them they were a bulwark against Cuba's enemies.

Their attendance "reaffirmed their irreversible decision to defend and build socialism, as the most energetic and firm response to those who, from the centres of power of the United States and the European Union, backed by small groups of internal mercenaries, try to discredit us," Valdes said.

Work harder

Echoing the main theme of Raul Castro's presidency, he said the best way to fend off their enemies was to work harder and be more productive to help Cuba's fragile economy.

"The economic battle - we workers know that, as never before, it is vital work for preserving our social system. And to achieve it with success means everyone has to do his part," said Valdes

The day's core messages were underscored on television and on signs carried by parade participants and posted around the square.

"Those who stand up for Cuba stand up for all time against the lies, against the calumnies of the empire (United States) and the European Union," said an announcer on the national broadcast of the parade.

"Unity, Strength and Victory" read one sign in the parade, while another said "Spend less and produce more."

If they were not subtle, marchers told Reuters they accurately reflected their pro-Cuba sentiment.

"They are defaming Cuba, and my duty was to come support the revolution," said 44-year-old food worker Maritza Perez.

"The campaign against Cuba has radicalized us more and shown the weakness and impotence of yankee imperialism," said Facundo Vergara, 72.

Cuba's relations with the United States and Europe had warmed, especially after President Barack Obama took office last year, but have in recent months turned rocky again, mostly over the issue of human rights.

Also, Cuba's detention since December of a US contractor for alleged espionage activities has put the brakes on Obama's attempts to recast US-Cuban relations. Washington has said the contractor, Alan Gross, was in Cuba setting up Internet services for Jewish groups.

- Reuters


:)

[Buddha Samurai Cadre]

It pisses me off when Maoists and trotskyites attack Cuba, yes Cuba focuses on sugar cane to stabalize the economy rather than an all round agricultural industry, this does not make cuba Non socialist.

Cuba is tragically isolated, and unlikemaoist china, has not reverted back to free market policies, even rauls slight reforms were pushed back by the workers.

Viva Cuba Libre

Long live the cuban revolution

Thanks for the article mate,top notch.

[Chambered Word]

It pisses me off when Maoists and trotskyites attack Cuba, yes Cuba focuses on sugar cane to stabalize the economy rather than an all round agricultural industry, this does not make cuba Non socialist.

Cuba is tragically isolated, and unlikemaoist china, has not reverted back to free market policies, even rauls slight reforms were pushed back by the workers.

Viva Cuba Libre

Long live the cuban revolution

Thanks for the article mate,top notch.

Are there any 'Trotskyites' in the entire world who criticize Cuba for this reason?

[Saorsa]

Are there any 'Trotskyites' in the entire world who criticize Cuba for this reason?

Yes.

[Robocommie]

Ricardian socialist theories would suggest that focusing on sugar cane production is not that big a problem. It's probably better than trying to turn Cuba into an autarky.

[chebol]

Sugar cane plays a piss-tiny part of the Cuban economy these days compared to what it used to. The main earners are tourism and nickel.

And Cuban agriculture - which is a right mess (in the countryside, anyway), as a matter of fact - is not the best angle critics should take, given the complexity of the rural question and the massive food security moves since the beginning of the Special Period (when the Soviet Union collapsed) which mean that most Cuban towns and cities produce the majority of their fresh fruit and vegies within the city limits...

[Robocommie]

And Cuban agriculture - which is a right mess (in the countryside, anyway), as a matter of fact - is not the best angle critics should take, given the complexity of the rural question and the massive food security moves since the beginning of the Special Period (when the Soviet Union collapsed) which mean that most Cuban towns and cities produce the majority of their fresh fruit and vegies within the city limits...

With community plots, or home gardens?

[chebol]

Mostly community plots (basically 'city farms' and 'community gardens'), although there is now a move towards allowing private "hobby farms" to increase levels of production. A good intro to this can be found in the doco "The Power of Community", which is available online (or at least it was last time I looked).

Things have gotten both better and worse in several ways since that doco was made, but I don't have the time right now to go into it...

[punisa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCsEPEXt5FQ
This is part 1 of 6 from Cuban television (more on youtube), May day 2010 coverage, if you know some Spanish you will find it interesting.

[Robocommie]

Mostly community plots (basically 'city farms' and 'community gardens'), although there is now a move towards allowing private "hobby farms" to increase levels of production. A good intro to this can be found in the doco "The Power of Community", which is available online (or at least it was last time I looked).

Things have gotten both better and worse in several ways since that doco was made, but I don't have the time right now to go into it...

I've always simply liked the concept of community gardens, so that sounds pretty good. That doco, is it in English or Spanish?

[pranabjyoti]

I think it's time for a united front of countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and other such countries in the field of science and technology and mutual scientific data and technology exchange. This city community gardens of Cuba, with some effort can be easily converted into "futuristic" vertical agricultural plants and that can reduce the need of increased land to increase production in future. If cities like Shanghai and Singapore can try to "produce their own food", then Havana can certainly be the future champion in this race. This kind of Agricultural technologies are under research worldwide and Cuba should give great effort to develop its own version of this kind of technology.

[Chambered Word]

Yes.

Glad to not be one of them then. :thumbup1: Source?

[flobdob]

I think it's time for a united front of countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and other such countries in the field of science and technology and mutual scientific data and technology exchange. This city community gardens of Cuba, with some effort can be easily converted into "futuristic" vertical agricultural plants and that can reduce the need of increased land to increase production in future. If cities like Shanghai and Singapore can try to "produce their own food", then Havana can certainly be the future champion in this race. This kind of Agricultural technologies are under research worldwide and Cuba should give great effort to develop its own version of this kind of technology.
This sort of thing is exactly what is happening right now in ALBA.

[pranabjyoti]

This sort of thing is exactly what is happening right now in ALBA.
Can you give any source?

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

Viva Cuba Libre!
Viva Fidel :)
I am a Maoist, but I don't see any reason to be against Cuba.

[Uppercut]

Viva Cuba Libre!
Viva Fidel :)
I am a Maoist, but I don't see any reason to be against Cuba.

I second that. Cuba may be slightly revisionist, but I still support the Cuban people for their strong anti-imperialist stance.

[RadioRaheem84]

The Viva Cuba Libre was a slogan used during the Revolution against Batista right?

Because I hear the right wing using it all the time, even Bush.

[chegitz guevara]

Are there any 'Trotskyites' in the entire world who criticize Cuba for this reason?

The various state capitalist variants of Trotskyism have criticized Cuba for this reason, as well as others.

[flobdob]

Can you give any source?

Sure, here's a relatively recent article from MR: http://monthlyreview.org/090901hart-landsberg.php

There's normally good stuff posted on Venezuelanalysis too

[pranabjyoti]

Sure, here's a relatively recent article from MR: http://monthlyreview.org/090901hart-landsberg.php

There's normally good stuff posted on Venezuelanalysis too
That's certainly a good article and have important information. But, so far from the article, it's clear that ALBA is now giving importance on setting up of industries which can be mutually beneficial. But, just setting up of industries isn't sufficient. What necessary is scientific and technological development. And for that, in my opinion, instead of depending on just its own, why don't ALBA countries aren't taking help from people around the world. I am sure that there are people around the world who are happily and willingly can help ALBA countries in this regard and the countries would certainly be benefited.

[Nolan]

Cubans in the streets in support of the revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3YppcFKkWs&playnext_from=TL&videos=19Vgn25USII&feature=sub

[Nolan]

Miles and miles of workers in support of the revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46vXG9cyrGc&feature=related

[RadioRaheem84]

For a third world country. I have always been impressed at that clothes they wear. It's a silly notion to point out, I know, but by the media's standard we're told to believe that it's exactly like El Salvador or Haiti. But I am always surprised at how fashionable some of the youth are. Others it looks like clothes are only clothes to them.

I remember watching a video about a guy who desperately wanted to leave Cuba and was complaining about the bureaucracy (rightly so) but he was dressed in some pretty stylish clothes and had a lifestyle equivalent to some people in the States, poor, yes, but without peril like some here. I understand that essential complaints should address the deficiency in democracy in Cuba, but in comparison to other third world nations under the thumb of US imperial domination, Cuba is doing better than most.

[AK]

It pisses me off when Maoists and trotskyites attack Cuba, yes Cuba focuses on sugar cane to stabalize the economy rather than an all round agricultural industry, this does not make cuba Non socialist.

Cuba is tragically isolated, and unlikemaoist china, has not reverted back to free market policies, even rauls slight reforms were pushed back by the workers.

Viva Cuba Libre

Long live the cuban revolution

Thanks for the article mate,top notch.
China's Maoist now?
And funny thing is, Captain Cuba's a maoist and in support of Cuba. Your argument is irrelevant.

[Chambered Word]

Glad to not be one of them then. :thumbup1: Source?

I'm still waiting and interested to know if anyone has a source on this claim.

[Nolan]

China's Maoist now?
And funny thing is, Captain Cuba's a maoist and in support of Cuba. Your argument is irrelevant.

I'm a Maoist? I didn't know that...

[Robocommie]

I'm a Maoist? I didn't know that...

Congratulations, you've been drafted! :D

[AK]

I'm a Maoist? I didn't know that...
Remind me as to why you were in the Maoist usergroup.

[Crusade]

Remind me as to why you were in the Maoist usergroup.

Possibly to join in on the discussions.

[AK]

Possibly to join in on the discussions.
Makes sense. I think there should be a Maoist Discussion usergroup like there is one for Anarchist Discussion.

[Nolan]

Remind me as to why you were in the Maoist usergroup.

I'm also in the Hoxhaist group.

[AK]

I'm also in the Hoxhaist group.
True that.

[Black Sheep]

- Annual Cuba may day thread

1-Stalinists: look! look! it's socialism, thousands of workers to the streets to defend it.
2-Trots & anarchists: they are forced to do so

repeat 1,2

[Stand up for Judas]

[links broken because i cant post links...] Anarchists march in Havana for the first time in 50 years libcom. org/gallery/libertarian-contingent-mayday-demonstration-havana-cuba Think that's the same bunch that did this: libcom. org/blog/our-men-women-havana-are-requesting-good-published-material-22032010

[Nolan]

2-Trots & anarchists: they are forced to do so



Right like the Nepalese Maoists force everyone to be in Kathmandu or they'll kill them. :rolleyes:

[hardlinecommunist]

Viva Cuba Libre!
Viva Fidel :)
I am a Maoist, but I don't see any reason to be against Cuba. I agree with you i am a Maoist. as well and i also see no reason to be aganist Cuba.

[RATM-Eubie]

This is awesome. Im proud of Cuba how they still have kept the revolution and hope alive for Latin America.
I will always support Cuba

[The Vegan Marxist]

It pisses me off when Maoists and trotskyites attack Cuba, yes Cuba focuses on sugar cane to stabalize the economy rather than an all round agricultural industry, this does not make cuba Non socialist.

Cuba is tragically isolated, and unlikemaoist china, has not reverted back to free market policies, even rauls slight reforms were pushed back by the workers.

Viva Cuba Libre

Long live the cuban revolution

Thanks for the article mate,top notch.

:confused:....um....when did China go back to being Maoist? I knew the U.S. is very disclosed when it came to Chinese news, but DAMN! :laugh:

btw, why do you keep changing your name? I'm worried...:unsure: